Smoke Detector Act

To be used as a reference to answer questions regarding the Smoke Detector Act (425 ILCS 60/).

Every dwelling unit shall be equipped with at least one smoke alarm in an operating condition within 15 feet of every room used for sleeping purposes.

On every story of the dwelling unit, including basements, but not including unoccupied attics.

The detector shall be installed on the ceiling and at least 6 inches from any wall or on a wall located between 4 and 6 inches from the ceiling.

The smoke alarm can be combined with CO detecting devices, provided each unit has a distinct alarm that differentiates the hazard.

Failure to install or maintain is a Class B misdemeanor.

The owner of the property must supply, install, and maintain all required alarms.

Tampering with, removing, destroying, disconnecting, or removing the batteries from any installed smoke alarm is a Class A misdemeanor in the case of the first conviction and a Class 4 felony in the case of a second subsequent conviction.

The smoke alarms required under this Act may be:

Battery powered (Dwelling units in existence before July 1, 1988)

Wired into structure AC power and interconnected (Dwelling units newly constructed, reconstructed, or substantially remodeled after December 31, 1987)

Wired into the structure AC power line, interconnected, with battery back-up (Dwelling units newly constructed, reconstructed, or substantially remodeled after January 1, 2011)